Car-coupling.



s. -SZNUTGHKO & E. W. STEVENSON.

GAR COUPLING. APPLIOATION FILED 001'. e, 1907.

Patented Mar. 9, 1909.

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UNITED STATES lPATENT @FFTQE;

SAMUEL SZNUTCHKO AND ELLERSLIE W. STEVENSON, OF OAKDALE, PENNSYLVANIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

Application filed October 8, 1907.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, SAMUEL SZNUTCHKO and ELLER-SLIE W. STEVENSON,citizens of the United States of America, residing at Uakdale, in thecounty of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Car- Couplers, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to car couplers, and its primary object is, toprovide a coupling of novel construction which will automatic allycouple by the abutting contact of the coupling members, and be retainedagainst accidental disengagement by a spring.

A further object of the'invention is, to provide novel means forpermitting a free play or movement of the coupling members when roundingcurves.

The invention also includes means for raising the spring-controlledcoupling member to uncouple the same from the cooperating member.

The construction of the improvement will be fully described hereinafterin connection with the accompanying drawing which forms a part of thisspecification, and its features of novelty will be set forth in theappended claims.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a partial side elevation of two carsconnected by our improved coupling, Fig. 2 is a side elevation of thecoupler detached. Fig. 3 is a view partly in longitudinal verticalsection, and partly in side elevation of the coupler, and Fig. 4 is afront elevation of the draw-head, partly in transverse section,containing one of the coupling members.

The reference numeral 1 designates a draw-head pivotally secured at itsinner end by a bolt 2 and nut 3 between the perforated arms of a yoke 4secured to a draw bar 5. The inner portions 6 of the side walls of thedraw head are preferably contracted in width and formed withlongitudinal reinforcing ribs 7. The outer end 8 of the drawhead isflared and formed with beveled surfaces 9 for the purpose hereinafterexplained, and in rear of these beveled surfaces the top and bottomwalls of the draw head are formed with vertical alining transverse slots10 and 11 to receive a vertically movable gate 12. The gate 12 is formedwith an opening 13, and a beveled surface 14 the latter being adapted toreceive the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. March 9, 1909.

Serial No. 396,418.

impact of a coupling hook 15 pivotally secured by a pin 16 to a drawhead 17 and having a tapered end 15 and a shoulder 15*.

Secured to the under side of the draw head 1 below the slot 11 is aframe 18, the bottom 19 of which is formed with a central opening 20 toreceive a coil spring 21, the upper end of which is secured to an eye 22depending from the gate 12 and the other end to an eye 23 supported upona rod 24 or other suitable securing device below the frame 18.

Trojecting centrally from the upper end of the gate 12 is an eye 25 towhich is loosely secured one end of a bell crank lever 26, the

"opposite end of which is connected to a crank arm 26' supported by aloop or keeper 27 at one side of the draw head and provided with ahandle or lever 28.

The utility and operation of the mechanism constructed as abovedescribed will be readily understood.

The gate 12 which serves as one of the coupling members, is normallyheld in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3, by the spring 21..l/Vhen two cars equipped with the coupling are brought together thetapered end of the hook 15 strikes the beveled surface 14 of the gateand enters the opening 13 thus elevating the gate sufliciently to passbehind the gate and engage against its rear surface as illustrated bydotted lines in Fig. 3. As soon as this coupling of the gate and hook iseffected, the spring draws the gate down thus insuring a secureengagement of the two coupling members. It will be apparent that thetapered form of the hook, and the beveled surface 14 of the gate permitof the required vertical movement of the gate with little jar orfriction. The draw head 1 and hook 15 being both pivotally supported,the required lateral play of the coupler is effected, and the beveledsurfaces contribute to that end.

The gate 12 may be readily raised by the uncoupling lever 28 to effectthe uncoupling from a position at one side of the cars.

Having fully described our invention what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is,

1. A car coupler comprising a pivoted draw head provided in its top andits bottom wall with a transverse slot, said slots arranged inalinement, a vertically disposed gate arranged within the draw head andextending in said slots, said gate provided with an opening extending inthe direction of the length of the draw head, the upper wall of saidopening being beveled, a pivoted coupling hook having its free endbeveled and further provided with a vertical shoulder in proximity toits beveled end, said gate ar ranged in the path of the hook wherebywhen the hook enters the draw head, the beveled end of the hook willengage the beveled portion of the gate elevating the latter during thepassage of the hook through said opening, said. gate adapted to sit uponsaid hook when the latter extends through the opening in the gatewhereby the shoulder of the hook will be arranged against the inner faceof the gate to prevent the separation of the hook from the draw head, aframe depending from the under side of the draw head, and having itsbottom provided with a centrally disposed opening, a rod arranged belowand engaging said frame, and a spring arranged within the opening in theframe and having one end connected to said gate and its other end formedwith an eye through which extends said rod.

2. A car coupler comprising a pivoted draw head provided in its top andits bottom wall with a transverse slot, said slots arranged inalinement, a vertically disposed gate arranged within the draw head andextending in said slots, said gate provided with an opening extending inthe direction of the length of the draw head, the upper wall of saidopening being beveled, a pivoted coupling hook having its free endbeveled and further provided with a vertical shoulder in proximity toits beveled end, said gate arranged in the path of the hook whereby whenthe hook enters the draw head, the beveled end of the hook will engagethe beveled portion of the gate elevating the latter during the passageof the hook when the latter extends through the opening in the gatewhereby the shoulder of the hook will arrange against the inner face ofthe gate to prevent the separation of the hook from the draw head, aframe depending from the underside of the draw head and having itsbottom provided with a centrally disposed opening, a rod arranged belowand engaging said frame, a spring arranged. Within the opening in theframe and having one end connected to the gate and its other end formedwith an eye through which extends said rod, and means engaging with thegate for elevating it to release the hook.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in the presence of twowitnesses.

SAMUEL SZNUTOHKO. ELLERSLIE WV. STEVENSON.

l/Vitnesses:

MAx H. SRoLoVrTz, A. J. Truce.

